Starting with a blind date with a female constable, you acquire the Nine Swords of Dugu.

Chapter 22: Lin Yourong VS Jiang Baili (Seeking monthly votes)

"Master—"

The fire phoenix cried out in surprise.

She rushed out quickly, hugged Wen Qiuchi, her eyes red.

"Take the cult leader away!"

The thunderous sound rang out almost simultaneously, and then he charged out, knife in hand. At the same time, many members of the Guanyin Sect also rushed towards Gu Guanqi, their eyes filled with desperate madness.

In an instant, swords clashed and cold light flashed.

Dozens of people rushed towards Gu Guanqi, and without exception, each of them had a resolute determination to die in their eyes.

At the same time, Jiang Baili, Lin Yourong, Qi Changkong and others rushed over.

Jiang Baili was the fastest.

Before Gu Guanqi could make another move, her figure, like a pure white ribbon, drifted gracefully through the wind and snow. She struck out with both hands, instantly knocking away several people rushing in front of her. Then she turned and swept to Lei Ming's side, striking out with a palm.

That palm strike was light and effortless, as if it carried no force whatsoever.

Wherever the palm strike passed, the air seemed to freeze for a moment.

At this moment, Lei Ming had very little true energy left in his dantian; he was only sustained by a resolute determination to face death.

He had no way to dodge Jiang Baili's palm strike.

"boom--"

A palm strike came.

Lei Ming took a solid blow to the chest.

With a "crack," the sound of bones breaking rang out. He instantly spat out a mouthful of blood and flew backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily to the ground. He twitched twice and then fell silent.

Lin Yourong followed closely behind.

Although her lightness skill wasn't as graceful as Jiang Baili's, it was still extremely fast. With a single step, she had already reached several Guanyin Cult members. She unleashed her Great Calamity Finger, the wind from her finger strikes fierce and the sound of air being torn apart sharp and piercing. One finger at a time, and in the blink of an eye, she had already knocked down several people, each one a fatal blow.

At the same time, the leaders of various sects, including Qi Changkong, Xiao Cong, and Lu Cheng, also made their moves, and as soon as they did, their disciples followed suit.

In an instant, swords flashed and shadows danced.

The various martial arts factions in Qingzhou once again clashed with the remnants of the Guanyin Sect.

Those Guanyin sect followers were already at their limit, their morale was low, and they lost Lei Ming as their leader. In no time, they were completely routed.

Some were slashed to the ground, while others dropped their weapons and fled.

The shouts of battle gradually subsided in the square.

At this moment, the Fire Phoenix had already carried Wen Qiuchi several feet away.

Gu Guanqi's gaze fell on that fiery red figure.

He raised his left hand and flicked his finger.

A steel ball shot out from the fingertip, silently and as fast as a shooting star.

The steel ball traced an almost invisible path through the wind and snow, passing through the swirling snowflakes and the billowing dust, and aimed precisely at the back of the fire phoenix.

"puff--"

The steel ball pierced through the back of the phoenix and exited through its chest, creating a cloud of blood mist.

Fire Phoenix's body stiffened abruptly, she staggered twice, and then fell forward. The body of Wen Qiuchi in her arms crashed heavily to the ground, splashing up a cloud of mud.

She turned her head with difficulty to look at Gu Guanqi in the distance.

The wind and snow fell on her face and on her eyelashes.

Then, her head slowly drooped, and she fell silent.

Gu Guanqi didn't look at it for long. His gaze quickly swept across the square and landed on a figure that was quietly moving towards the mountain path.

It was indeed Eunuch Cao.

He was clutching his chest wound, stumbling towards the mountain gate. His steps were slow, clearly indicating severe injury, yet he was still desperately trying to move forward, one step, two steps, three steps…

Gu Guanqi unleashed a powerful white palm strike.

The force of his palm drew a cold arc in the wind and snow.

It struck Eunuch Cao in the back instantly.

Immediately, Eunuch Cao collapsed forward, lying on the ground, and fell silent.

Gu Guanqi sheathed his sword, stepped forward, bent down and reached out, preparing to remove the veil from Eunuch Cao's face to see who this man really was.

But at this moment,

"Gu Guanqi, stop!"

A voice came from behind, very urgent.

Gu Guanqi's fingers stopped at the edge of the face towel, and he turned his head away.

Yan Wangchuan flew over quickly.

He rushed to the body of Eunuch Cao, raised his right hand, and slapped it down.

"Bang—"

The face under the mask was instantly distorted; the cheekbones were shattered, the bridge of the nose collapsed, and the entire face was a bloody mess, no longer recognizable.

Gu Guanqi frowned slightly.

Yan Wangchuan withdrew his hand and then said in a serious tone, "This person must be a heretic invited by the Guanyin Sect from the northern frontier. It's just a pity that he was accidentally beaten beyond recognition during the battle, so it's impossible to verify which demon he was."

"Well……"

Gu Guanqi was slightly taken aback, but did not ask any further questions.

Based on the man's voice, movements, and conversation with Wen Qiuchi, one could roughly guess that he was a eunuch from the palace.

This person always wore a mask in order to conceal his identity, and Yan Wangchuan's actions were also to cover up his origins.

The reason is simple: it doesn't matter if one villain dies.

But if someone from the palace dies, then an investigation must be carried out, and then too many things will be involved, such as why the other party came, who instructed them, and what they did behind the scenes.

Although the eunuch faction wielded immense power, it hadn't reached the point of absolute control and still had political enemies who wouldn't let an opportunity slip by. However, power struggles in the court have always been a battle between gods, leaving mortals to suffer.

Gu Guanqi understood that Yan Wangchuan wanted to protect him from being drawn into a bigger vortex and to bring this matter to an end.

Before long, the battle was basically over.

The followers of the Guanyin sect were either killed or fled.

People from all the martial arts factions in Qingzhou also began searching for their own dead and wounded, gathering their own forces to clean up the battlefield.

Corpses lay scattered haphazardly on the snow. Blood stained the snow a dark red, starkly contrasting against the gloomy sky.

The groans and cries for help of the wounded echoed across the empty square.

The air was thick with the stench of blood, mixed with the scent of wind and snow.

Shang Guzhou, leaning on his sword, walked towards Gu Guanqi.

His left shoulder wound was still bleeding, his gray hair was loose, covering half of his face, his face was pale, and his steps were unsteady.

He walked over, clasped his hands in a fist and bowed deeply to Yan Wangchuan and Gu Guanqi, saying, "Lord Yan, Hero Gu, thank you both for saving my Wenjian Sect!"

Yan Wangchuan waved his hand and said, "I didn't do anything."

Gu Guanqi quickly reached out to support Shang Guzhou's arm, saying, "Sect Leader Shang, there's no need for this. It's just a pity we're still too late."

Shang Guzhou hurriedly said, "The Wenjian Sect was destined for destruction, but thanks to your great kindness, it has been given a chance to survive. You have already given us a second chance."

Gu Guanqi didn't say anything more, took out a few porcelain bottles, and handed them over.

"Sect Leader Shang, these are healing pills I've refined. The powder can be applied externally to stop bleeding, while the pills can be taken internally to strengthen the body. Many disciples of the Sword Inquiry Sect are injured; please stop the injuries of your own disciples first."

Shang Guzhou did not refuse, accepted the porcelain bottle, and cupped his hands, saying, "Thank you, Hero Gu."

Then, he quickly turned around, took the porcelain bottle, and left.

At this moment, leaders of various sects, including Qi Changkong, Xiao Cong, and Lu Cheng, came from all directions to express their gratitude to Gu Guanqi for saving the martial arts world of Qingzhou in this battle.

Then they all left.

No one had the face to stay any longer.

Before long, the square was empty, leaving only about twenty people from the Sword Inquiry Sect, as well as ruins and bloodstains.

The wind and snow were falling, creating a rather desolate scene.

Standing at the edge of the square, Gu Guanqi sighed, "The once mighty Wenjian Sect, the leader of the Qingzhou martial arts world, will probably be relegated to a second-rate sect from now on."

Yan Wangchuan said, "Wang Jingshan is already crippled. Although Shang Guzhou is still alright, he is so badly injured that it is impossible for him to recover to his peak. It is hard to say how many years he can live. The talent pool of Wenjian Sect has declined to this extent, and it will be difficult to recover unless a top genius emerges."

Gu Guanqi was silent for a while, then said, "After this battle, not only did the Wenjian Sect fall, but all the major sects in Qingzhou also suffered heavy losses. The already stagnant martial arts will probably decline even further."

Yan Wangchuan shook his head slightly and said, "Not necessarily. As the saying goes, 'When a whale falls, all things are born.' The martial arts world of Qingzhou has been controlled by a few major sects for years, making it difficult for the younger generation to rise. Now, with this major reshuffle, the old have fallen, and the young can rise. Chaos is inevitable, but within chaos lies opportunity. So, it might not be a decline, but rather a chance for prosperity!"

Gu Guanqi sighed, feeling deeply moved, and said, "The vast martial arts world of Qingzhou, the immense Heavenly Demon Sect, fought to the point of mutual destruction. Who truly won?"

Yan Wangchuan said calmly, "The people standing outside have won!"

Gu Guanqi turned his head to look at Yan Wangchuan.

"The original leader of the Heavenly Demon Sect, Chu Shukuang, was an outstanding person," Yan Wangchuan said. "His martial arts skills were very high, and his abilities were also very strong. It's just that I don't know why he was not on guard against Wen Qiuchi and was actually killed by Wen Qiuchi. Although the eunuch faction must have been involved in the process."

Chu Shukuang is dead, the Heavenly Demon Sect became the Guanyin Sect, and now it's been destroyed. The martial arts world of Qingzhou has also been decimated, and the eunuch faction that actually started this whole thing hasn't even shown up... No, that's not right. If it weren't for rescuing Wen Qiuchi, they wouldn't have suffered any losses at all.

Yan Wangchuan paused for a moment, then continued, "Although it seems that you have thwarted the eunuch faction's plan, just watch. Before long, a new batch of sects will emerge in Qingzhou. Although we don't know why the eunuch faction supports the Guanyin Sect to control the martial arts world of Qingzhou, they won't let it go just because the Guanyin Sect is destroyed."

For them, supporting the Guanyin sect is merely a matter of convenience, not an absolute necessity. If the Guanyin sect collapses, they can simply replace it with another; if one isn't enough, they can have five or ten—it just takes a little more time!

Gu Guanqi remained silent for a while before saying, "Isn't the martial arts world rather boring? Those people in the imperial court can easily destroy a vast martial arts world from thousands of miles away."

Yan Wangchuan said, "The martial arts world of Qingzhou is boring because none of the martial arts forces in Qingzhou have transcended the level of the Jianghu (江湖, the martial arts world). Why don't you try the other eight major sects?"

"How so?" Gu Guanqi asked.

Yan Wangchuan pondered for a while before saying, "In the territories of the eight major sects, the local government is subject to their control. Something like this targeting of the Wenjian Sect is simply impossible for the eight major sects to do."

Because a large number of local government officials were their disciples or associates, whether or not the imperial decrees could be implemented largely depended on their opinions. The local prominent families had also built a very complex and intricate network centered around them.

Therefore, if the eunuch faction used the same methods against the Eight Great Schools, the mines in Chang County were just cleared in the morning, and the people from the Eight Great Schools took over in the afternoon, while Magistrate Wang Kang was investigated that evening.

Gu Guanqi asked in surprise, "That amazing?"

Yan Wangchuan nodded and said, "That's why I said Qingzhou is because these martial arts forces are incapable of transcending this level. The saying 'a hero uses martial arts to break the law' isn't just a random saying. The eight major sects are eight major sects in the martial arts world, but in the imperial court, they're equivalent to eight powerful lords!"

Gu Guanqi asked in confusion, "Logically speaking, someone of your status should have a deep hatred for the eight major sects, so why do you sound like you actually have a good impression of them?"

"I definitely hate it," Yan Wangchuan said. "As a member of the Six Doors, I certainly don't like this kind of force with very little control over the Six Doors. But, comparatively speaking, I hate the eunuch faction even more."

"If it weren't for the eunuch faction's corruption and mismanagement of the court, weakening the government and causing several major upheavals in the Six Doors (the government's secret service), the Eight Great Sects wouldn't have grown to such a powerful level. Now, conversely, the existence of the Eight Great Sects has put pressure on the eunuch faction, preventing them from going too far in their actions within the court."

Gu Guanqi didn't know what to say.

Because he lacked political awareness, he was completely unaware of the current situation of the imperial court.

Moreover, he was a visitor from another world.

They had little reverence for imperial power.

Moreover, this is a royal family that cannot even control the eunuchs, or one that needs to cultivate eunuchs to check the court. Such a royal family is probably already at its end; any major upheaval could cause it to collapse instantly.

"Ugh!"

Yan Wangchuan sighed and was about to speak again when he suddenly saw Jiang Baili walking over. Then he saw Lin Yourong on the other side, telling everyone in the Lin family to leave while she stayed behind, and she also walked over.

Two people,

They came from two directions.

The goal is the same.

Yan Wangchuan raised an eyebrow, a meaningful smile appearing on his face. He then reached out and patted Gu Guanqi's shoulder, grinning as he whispered, "Do you think those two might fight? I saw them team up against Lei Ming just now; they're both incredibly skilled!"

Gu Guanqi rolled his eyes.

"Hehe, I'll stay far away to avoid getting splattered with blood!"

After saying that, Yan Wangchuan quickly slipped away.

immediately,

Lin Yourong arrived first, a gentle smile on her face, and said, "Guanqi, it's been a long time!"

Gu Guanqi laughed and said, "It hasn't been long, only a little over two months!"

Lin Yourong took a step forward, getting closer, and said softly, "But I haven't been able to see you for so long, it feels like so much time has passed, I..."

"elder brother!"

At this moment, Jiang Baili walked to Gu Guanqi's side, called out softly, and then reached out and took Gu Guanqi's hand.

Lin Yourong's pupils contracted slightly.

Jiang Baili raised her head slightly, looked at Gu Guanqi, and asked, "Brother, do you know Miss Lin?"

Gu Guanqi nodded slightly.

Lin Yourong looked at Jiang Baili, chuckled, and said, "Miss Jiang and Guanqi are truly a perfect match, much better suited than I am for Guanqi! Before, due to some unforeseen circumstances, Guanqi and I couldn't become husband and wife, which I always regretted. But now it seems it's better for Guanqi!"

Jiang Baili nodded slightly and said, "Thank you."

Lin Yourong's pupils contracted slightly, trying to discern a different emotion from Jiang Baili's face, but no matter how she looked, she couldn't see any trace of hidden displeasure.

"A master!"

She immediately realized that Jiang Baili was definitely a master. To remain so calm after learning that her lover had a past with another woman, that they were still seeing each other, and that the other woman was still hung up on him—his composure was truly remarkable!

immediately,

Lin Yourong then asked, "How long have you known Guanqi, Miss Jiang?"

Jiang Baili said, "It's been more than half a month."

Lin Yourong's eyes lit up, and she quickly said, "It's so short! We should get to know each other better. After all, feelings need to be cultivated slowly."

"Yes," Jiang Baili said, "You're right. I haven't spent enough time with my brother. Although I liked him the first time I saw him, he fell for me in the Dongyang Mountain mine. But it doesn't matter. We're together every day now and can have a lot of contact."

Lin Yourong: "??"

As for?

I was just tentatively pointing out that you two weren't very close, so why did you immediately respond with "love at first sight" and "death to the end"?

She took a deep breath, maintaining a smile, and said, "Miss Jiang is right. If two people can spend every day together, the length of time really doesn't matter. After all, I hadn't known Guanqi for very long before I introduced him to my parents..."

Jiang Baili's expression finally changed, and the way he looked at Lin Yourong also changed.

Lin Yourong was overjoyed.

No matter how high one's social standing, she is still a woman at heart. There is no woman who could know that her lover almost married another woman and remain unmoved.

"Ah," Lin Yourong quickly said, "I'm sorry, Miss Jiang, Guanqi and I are things of the past, I shouldn't have brought it up..."

Jiang Baili suddenly strode towards Lin Yourong.

Lin Yourong was startled.

"You won't be so impulsive as to resort to violence, will you?"

At this moment,

Jiang Baili walked up to Lin Yourong and hugged her with both hands.

Lin Yourong froze, completely taken aback.

Jiang Baili gently patted Lin Yourong's back and said, "You even took your brother to meet our parents, so you must really like him. But in the end, you couldn't be together, and you must be extremely sad."

"I...I..."

Lin Yourong was at a loss.

Jiang Baili released Lin Yourong and said sincerely, "However, don't be too upset. I can do divination. I'll tell you whether you and your brother are still destined to be together. Okay?"

"No..." Lin Yourong looked bewildered and said, "If you calculate that I still have a connection with Guan Qi, then... what should we do?"

"Then you won't feel bad anymore," Jiang Baili said.

Lin Yourong asked suspiciously, "And what about you? Aren't you feeling unwell?"

"Why should I be upset?" Jiang Baili said, "Your connection with my brother is not the same as my connection with my brother."

Lin Yourong's eyes widened, and she stared blankly for a while before immediately reaching out and grasping Jiang Baili's hand, saying, "Miss Jiang, no need to worry about it. From now on, I'll follow you. The position of the principal wife is yours alone!"

Jiang Baili said, "Although I don't understand what you mean, it's good that you're not feeling bad anymore."

Lin Yourong then said, "From now on, let's address each other separately, okay? I'm older than you, so you call me Sister Yourong, and I'll call you Sister!"

"Okay, sure."

……

On the same day,

Gu Guanqi did not go down the mountain.

Because the few remaining disciples of the Sword Inquiry Sect were all seriously injured, he chose to stay and help treat their wounds.

If he doesn't leave, neither will Jiang Baili and Lin Yourong.

All three of them stayed on Wenjian Mountain.

At night,

Gu Guanqi finally stabilized the injuries of everyone from the Sword Inquiry Sect, and then suggested that he go to rest.

Shang Guzhou quickly arranged a place for the three of them to rest in three adjacent courtyards.

Night had fallen, and all was quiet on Wenjian Mountain.

The sounds of fighting, screams, and the clash of metal during the day have long since dissipated into the wind and snow, leaving only the occasional rustling of the night wind sweeping across the mountaintops, stirring up the remaining snow.

The guest rooms of Wenjianmen are located in the manor on the back mountain. They are made of blue bricks and gray tiles, with low courtyard walls. A few plum trees are planted in the corner of the wall, with a few buds on the branches that are about to bloom, and they are blushing faintly in the moonlight.

Gu Guanqi's courtyard is on the far east side, next to Jiang Baili's, while Lin Yourong's courtyard is on the west side, separated by a low wall and a bluestone path.

Moonlight peeked through the clouds, spilling onto the snow and making the entire courtyard appear as if it were covered in a layer of silver frost.

Gu Guanqi sat cross-legged on the bed, practicing his internal energy.

He was extremely exhausted from the battle during the day.

Afterwards, he was busy treating the injuries of the Wenjian Sect disciples without having time to recover himself. Only now did he finally have time to recuperate.

Time flew by, and the night grew deeper.

Around midnight,

Gu Guanqi suddenly heard a very faint sound coming from outside the courtyard gate.

Someone was using their lightness skill to get towards him.

Gu Guanqi frowned slightly and turned his head to look at the door.

Moonlight streamed in through the window, illuminating the room in a dim, half-lit atmosphere.

He saw a slender figure gracefully vault over the courtyard wall and land on the snow in the yard, making almost no sound.

He chuckled and recognized the person as Lin Yourong.

Lin Yourong tiptoed across the courtyard, stopped outside his door.

Then, a soft knock sounded on the door.

"Tap, tap, tap."

Gu Guanqi got up, walked to the door, and reached out to pull open the latch.

The door opened a crack, and moonlight streamed in.

Lin Yourong stood at the doorway, her long black hair cascading over her shoulders and back, uncombed and held back only by a ribbon. Moonlight shone on her face, giving it a faint blush, whether from the cold or something else, it was hard to tell.

Her eyes were bright, like two stars in the night, carrying a hint of nervousness and anticipation.

Gu Guanqi asked, "You Rong, you've come so late, is there something urgent?"

Lin Yourong nodded and said, "Yes, it's very urgent!"

Gu Guanqi quickly asked, "What is it?"

"I think I'm sick!" Her voice was low, with a lazy, soft nasal tone.

Gu Guanqi sized her up by the moonlight.

Her complexion was rosy, her breathing was steady, and her eyes were clear; she didn't seem ill. But he still reached out and grabbed Lin Yourong's wrist to take her pulse, asking, "What are your symptoms?"

Just then, Lin Yourong suddenly took a step forward and threw herself into Gu Guanqi's arms, wrapping her arms around his neck and looking up at him.

Her body was soft and warm, with a faint fragrance.

"Dr. Gu," Lin Yourong's voice was as soft as a wisp of smoke, carrying a hint of allure, "My symptom is... I miss you terribly. Tell me, how should this be treated?"

Gu Guanqi: "..."

Before Gu Guanqi could speak, Lin Yourong tiptoed and kissed Gu Guanqi's lips.

Her lips were soft and hot, pressed against Gu Guanqi's lips, her tongue gently tracing the outline of Gu Guanqi's lips, then probing in and entwining with them.

Gu Guanqi's hand tightened slightly around Lin Yourong's waist.

Moonlight streamed in through the doorway, casting their shadows on the wall, intertwined and indistinguishable. The room was quiet, so quiet that they could hear each other's breathing, growing heavier and more rapid.

Lin Yourong's body was pressed tightly against Gu Guanqi's, and through the thin fabric, they could feel each other's warmth and heartbeats.

Gu Guanqi's hand slowly moved up along Lin Yourong's waistline.

Lin Yourong's body trembled slightly, and a very soft murmur escaped her throat.

She kissed him more deeply.

Time seemed to stand still.

After an unknown amount of time, Lin Yourong suddenly gave Gu Guanqi a gentle push on the chest, creating some distance between them.

Her breathing was rapid and erratic, her chest heaving, and her cheeks were flushed with a deep blush that spread from her ears to her neck.

Her lips were rosy and glistening with moisture, and her eyes were dreamy and unfocused.

"I can't take it anymore, I can't take it anymore..." she gasped, indignantly. "It's awful, awful, this damned realm of tranquility!"

She took a half step back, reached out to tidy her disheveled hair, took a few deep breaths, and circulated the Mind-Clearing Technique to suppress the surging true energy within her body.

It took a while for her breathing to gradually calm down, but the blush on her face did not fade.

She looked up at Gu Guanqi.

"Guanqi, I'm looking for a way," she said softly. "I'll raise my cultivation level to the True Purity Realm as soon as possible, and then... um, I'm leaving, I'm leaving. This damned pseudo-realm is too unbearable..."

After saying that, she quickly turned around, ran out without looking back, and climbed over the wall again.

Gu Guanqi shook his head helplessly.

"Am I not feeling bad either...?"

He muttered something under his breath and turned to close the door.

At that very moment—

His gaze inadvertently swept over the courtyard wall.

Under the moonlight, on the snow-covered eaves, a figure in pure white stood quietly.

Jiang Baili arrived at some point, and it's unclear how long she's been standing there.

She wore a simple white dress, her black hair cascading down like a waterfall. The moonlight shone on her, making her aloof and ethereal face look like the first snow on a mountain peak, untouched by any dust.

Her gaze was calm and unreadable, revealing no emotion as she quietly watched Gu Guanqi.

Gu Guanqi felt a pang of guilt.

At this moment, Jiang Baili lightly touched the ground with her feet, and her figure floated down from the eaves like a snowflake, silently, her plain white dress drawing a soft arc in the moonlight.

In the blink of an eye, she was standing in front of Gu Guanqi.

She raised her head, her clear eyes shining brightly in the moonlight, like a mountain spring reflecting the moonlight and his figure.

Gu Guanqi quickly said, "Little Fish, let me explain..."

As he spoke, he frantically racked his brains for words.

However, at that very moment,

Jiang Baili suddenly stood on tiptoe and kissed him.

Her lips were slightly cool, yet as soft as fresh snow, gently rubbing against Gu Guanqi's lips.

Gu Guanqi was stunned.

"Brother, I saw it all."

Jiang Baili spoke, then gently pushed Gu Guanqi's chest, leading him step by step into the house. Jiang Baili's steps were neither hurried nor slow, and she did not use much force, yet she carried an air of undeniable authority.

Gu Guanqi didn't know what to say or do, so he could only cooperate by backing away. His heel touched the threshold, his body swayed, and he staggered two steps.

Jiang Baili seized the opportunity and closed the door behind her.

With a soft "bang," the moonlight was shut out of the door, and the room was plunged into a dim, yellowish light from the lamplight.

Only a few streaks of silver light leaked in through the window, vaguely outlining the silhouettes of the two people.

Gu Guanqi called out, "Little Fish..."

Jiang Baili neither spoke nor stopped what she was doing.

She continued to push Gu Guanqi further inside, until they reached the bedside. She placed her hands on Gu Guanqi's shoulders and pressed him down onto the bed.

Jiang Baili leaned down slightly and looked at Gu Guanqi.

The dim light shone from behind her, casting a half-light and half-shadow on her face. Her clear eyes remained calm.

She raised her hand and removed the jade hairpin that held her hair in place.

Her long, black hair cascaded down her shoulders and back, shimmering softly in the moonlight. A few strands brushed against Gu Guanqi's cheek, carrying a cool, aloof air.

Her fingers were long and slender, with distinct knuckles, and her movements were unhurried and composed.

Then, she untied the silk sash around her waist.

The pure white dress slipped off her shoulders, down her slender waist to her feet, piling up like a white cloud in the moonlight.

One by one, her clothes slowly slid off, fully revealing her fair figure.

Her skin was as white as snow, with a faint glow, and so delicate that it was without any flaws.

She stood before Gu Guanqi, pure, aloof, and untouched by the dust of the world, like the first snow on a mountaintop, like a fairy from the moon palace.

She leaned down, placing her hands on Gu Guanqi's shoulders, her long black hair falling down like a curtain, isolating the two of them from the outside world.

She looked at him, her gaze still clear, but with a touch more tenderness, a touch more seriousness, and a touch of girlish shyness that he had never seen before.

"Brother," she said softly, "my inner energy has been stable for many days now."

Gu Guanqi looked into her eyes, and his reflection was seen in those clear, cold eyes.

Jiang Baili gently kissed him.

Gu Guanqi slowly raised his hand and unleashed a powerful palm strike.

The flickering oil lamp went out instantly.

……

Before long, only soft breathing could be heard inside the room, one breath after another, growing heavier and more rapid.

The night was hazy, immersing everything in a tranquil atmosphere.

In the distance, a light was still on in one of the houses, its dim yellow light filtering through the window paper and casting warm patches of light on the snow.

A night breeze blew by, and the old plum tree in the courtyard swayed gently. A few petals drifted down from the branches and landed silently on the snow.

The night was deep and quiet, and all was still.

Only from that room could one or two extremely soft sounds occasionally escape, like whispers or murmurs, which were quickly swallowed up by the night wind.